The necessary process of obtaining a construction permit from the president averages over 20 years of red tape. And yet the Hamayoni Decree enables the Muslim public to destroy churches that actually survived this process using the excuse that these churches were illegally built. Thus, February tenth is the fate of the Church of the Virgin Mary, its priest and its parishioners. True to form the Egyptian government has once again blamed the victim for the aggression. To alleviate their responsibility, on 02/11/2002 the Egyptian government arrested the church priest, Fr. Luka Ibrahim Sargious, and he is now being questioned on the charge of firing a hunting rifle.
The same tactic was employed by the Egyptian government in the early days of the Al-Kosheh massacre that left 21 Christians dead. They arrested and accused Father Ghobrial of the illegal possession of a firearm. Although the accusations against Father Ghobrial have been found to be false, the charges have not been dropped and are always brought forth for intimidation purposes. “No matter how the government attempts to spin the situation, what priest would interrupt a liturgy, exit a church during its opening ceremony and go fire a hunting rifle at Muslim youth who just happened to be standing out side with gasoline bombs”, said Michael Meunier, president of the U.S. Copts Association.
Yet the Interior Ministry said as the official government response "Elements from both sides, Muslim and Christian, overreacted." With no accountability and certainly no action for future prevention let alone prosecution for current criminals, why should Muslim treat Christians with anything but violence in a country where the president must personally grant any permission for church constructions? The Christian community in and outside of Egypt has repeatedly asked President Mubarak to treat the construction of places of worship in Egypt equally, whether they are Islamic or Christian, if only to send a message of acceptance and tolerance among all Egyptians. Yet President Mubarak seems to ignore all pleas to send a message of tolerance and acceptance to his people and grant the Egyptian Christians the rights to build their Churches. No wonder Christians in Egypt will continue to be abused under President Mubarak’s regime.
Worth repeating:
No wonder Christians in Egypt will continue to be abused under President Mubarak’s regime.
OUR government should demand that these Islamic states stop persecuting or allowing the persecution of Christians and ALL non-Islamic faiths in their countries.